Motorists and cyclists may not always understand one another[1], but with the help of the MindRider[2], they’ll at least have one more avenue of communication. Developed by MIT student Arlene Ducao[3], the mind-controlled helmet flashes different colored lights depending on the rider’s stress levels. Using a NeuroSky Mindset, the MIT animator and computer programmer has developed a more elegant way to communicate on the road than flipping someone the bird.

[4]

The MindRider is a piece of gear that could have come straight out of a science fiction novel. The system reads the brain’s electroencephalogram (EEG) feedback and translates it into an embedded LED display that allows cyclists to broadcast their emotions and level of concentration without the need for hand controls. The lights shine green for calm and collected, red signals high stress, and blinking lights indicate panic. The whole contraption consists of a single-electrode EEG device from NeuroSky MindSet[5], an Arduino board[6], a bluetooth radio, a RGB LED light strip, 3 transistors to control the light colors, and a 9-volt battery.

The next incarnation of the MindRider is slated to include an expanded set of EEG contacts, proximity sensors, wearable visualization, and other features that help heighten the rider’s awareness of the environment. A network of MindRiders could potentially be used to track traffic and accident conditions. Now, if only someone would invent a helmet that could fix a flat tire…